HELPFUL HINTS FOR PARTICIPATING IN THE
ANNUAL LOON CENSUS

1. Conduct your observations for the entire hour of the census.

 2. Note that observations conducted before or after the census hour (8-9a.m.) will not be included in the final census results. For us to get a coordinated “snap-shot” of how many loons are present and where they are, everyone needs to conduct their observations at the same time. If you send in observations from a different day or time, we cannot use them in the census results (however, they will be added to our long-term Presence/Absence database).

3. Help with Aging Loons:

a. Adult Loons: Fully feathered with black and white feathers and full size. Note that some adults are much larger (usually males) than others (usually females). Please identify adult loons carefully – they can occasionally be confused with mergansers or cormorants!

b. Immature Loons: Fully feathered with light and dark gray feathers. They are 2/3 adult size or larger.

c. Loon Chicks: They have either black or brown DOWN (no feathers). They are less than 2/3 the size of an adult bird.

4. Record only the FIRST sighting of each loon or group of loons. PLEASE DO NOT COUNT LOONS TWICE.

5. Do not count loons flying overhead. They should only be counted if they land on the lake or were on the water originally and then took off.

6. Remember to report “ZERO” when you do not observe loons, as well as the positive observations. A report of “zero” loons is just as important for census validity as multiple loons (over time, these “zero” observations will enable us to determine if loons are using more or fewer lakes).

When Filling in the Annual Loon Census Form:

7. Remember to use a separate form for each lake on which you conduct observations.

 8. Please use a PEN to fill out the Census Form (much easier for us to read than pencil).

 9. Please PRINT your information clearly to enable us to interpret your observations correctly.

10. Note the location on the lake/pond and the direction in which the loons move or fly. Please note if you conducted observations on the entire lake or on a portion of the lake.

 11. Please include a sketch map on the back side of the Annual Census form indicating where birds were observed and location of the observer. These maps are very helpful to us in learning what parts of the lake loons use.

12. Your comments on the form are also very helpful! Please feel free to add any information that you feel is not adequately covered in the data portion of the form. You are also welcome to submit photos from your census observations – we will include them on our website when we post the census results later this year.

13. PLEASE FILL IN YOUR CENSUS FORM COMPLETELY! Remember to include the time, # observers, and your address!